Record numbers of British doctors, nurses, and midwives are seeking opportunities to work overseas, with Australia ranking at the top of their list, according to a MailOnline investigation. In 2022, nearly 25,000 applications for documents required to secure jobs abroad were made to UK healthcare regulators, with the vast majority coming from NHS workers. This figure far surpasses the 10,000 applications seen prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Senior leaders in the health service are sounding the alarm, stating that “the exodus is only just beginning” and urging government officials to take action. Dissatisfied with their treatment in the UK, NHS medics claim that the pandemic has highlighted their undervaluation, prompting a wave of strikes aimed at improving their pay.
The number of UK registered doctors requesting documents for job applications overseas has steadily increased over the past five years, reaching its peak in 2022, with 2023 showing promise as well. Meanwhile, interest in relocating overseas among nurses and midwives skyrocketed in the previous financial year, with over 16,000 applications. While Australia remains the top destination for healthcare professionals, countries like the US and the United Arab Emirates have also attracted interest.
Dr. Michael Mrozinski, a 37-year-old medic, is one of the healthcare professionals who made the move to Australia, citing burnout after seven years in the NHS. The allure of higher salaries, potentially reaching £130,000, and a better work-life balance played a significant role in his decision. Australia has actively employed “cheeky” tactics, such as deploying mobile billboards to NHS strike picket lines, to entice dissatisfied medics. However, some who have made the move have discovered that the reality does not quite match the promises.
To apply for jobs overseas, British health staff must obtain documents from their UK regulatory bodies, which confirm their clean records, up-to-date training, and ability to provide trustworthy care to patients. The data obtained by MailOnline reveals that in 2022, nearly 7,000 doctors applied to the General Medical Council for the necessary documents, an increase from 6,100 applications in 2019. For nurses and midwives, the numbers are even starker, with nearly 16,000 applications made to the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2022/23 compared to under 5,500 in 2018.
Australia emerged as the top choice for both doctors and nurses, with almost 9,000 doctors applying to work there over the past five years, and approximately 11,000 nurses and midwives submitting applications since 2017/18. The Australian government’s efforts to attract medics from the UK seem to be paying off, as data from the Australian Medical Council reveals that almost 1,000 British medics successfully registered in 2021/22, a 16% increase from the previous year.
In addition to Australia, other countries are also seeking to recruit skilled NHS staff. Doctor applications to work in the United Arab Emirates almost doubled from 550 in 2019 to just over 1,000 in 2022, drawn by higher tax-free salaries and various benefits. Nurse and midwife applications to the US saw a more dramatic increase, reaching 6,433 last year, almost ten times the number in 2017/18.
It is important to note that the figures mentioned represent applications rather than confirmed job placements. Individual staff members can submit multiple applications to different countries. Nevertheless, NHS unions argue that the data reflects a desire among healthcare professionals to leave the UK due to feeling undervalued and overworked. Dr. Latifa Patel, the British Medical Association’s workforce lead, emphasizes the need for urgent action from the government to address low pay and poor working conditions. Pat Cullen, the Royal College of Nursing’s general secretary, calls on ministers to take immediate action to reverse the trend of nurses leaving the profession.
International recruitment efforts, such as displaying advertisements featuring the benefits of work-life balance in Australia and enticing financial assistance for relocation, provide further evidence of the healthcare worker exodus. Additionally, the costs associated with bringing partners and children to live in the UK have pushed some international nurses to look for opportunities elsewhere, as other countries offer more favorable visa packages for dependents. The departure of international nurses will exacerbate the existing nursing shortage and impact patient care.
In conclusion, the high number of healthcare professionals seeking opportunities abroad highlights the dissatisfaction and frustration among NHS workers in the UK. Urgent action is needed to address the issues of low pay, excessive workload, and inadequate working conditions to prevent a crisis in the healthcare system.
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